Call center administration manager

ABSTRACT

A network-based call center for managing a company&#39;s interactions with its customers uses resources supplied by an application service provider. The call center stores sensitive information on a database within the company&#39;s private network, behind a firewall. When a call center resource or another client or server obtains new sensitive information, the resource writes the information to the database and then erases the information. When a resource needs sensitive information stored on the database, the resource requests the information from the database, uses it, and then erases the information. The call center further provides a browser-based tool, running on the Internet, for enabling non-technical personnel of the company to provision a call center from the resources of the application service provider.

APPENDIX AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0001]FIG. 2-98 included in this document represent screen output of a browser-based call center administration manager interface. These figures form poart of the disclosure of the specification. The Figures and the Computer Program Listing Appendix included on the Compact discs filed with this document are copyrighted. The copyright owner has no objection to facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document, including the copyrighted Figures and te Appendix, as they appear in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to call center provisioning, management, and supervision.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] Organizations with more than trivial needs for customer interaction often use call centers to provide services to their customers and to organize sales personnel. A call center is the means by which an organization, e.g., company or “enterprise,” handles customer and other calls, usually with some amount of computer automation. Typically, a call center can handle a considerable volume of inbound and outbound calls at the same time, screen inbound calls, forward them to agents (e.g., customer service representatives) with appropriate skills, and maintain records of the calls and of the call center agents. Call centers have traditionally been used by mail-order catalog companies, telemarketing companies, computer product help desks, and other similar organizations that use the telephone to sell or support their products and services.

[0006] Many call centers use computer-telephony integration (CTI), also known as “computer telephony,” to process telephone calls. These terms refer simply to the use of computers in managing the calls. Since the advent of the information technology revolution, companies have increasingly felt the need to interact with their customers through alternative communication channels that include, for example, facsimile transmissions, email, and web-based contacts. (We will collectively refer to such interactions and the conventional telephone calls as “e-contacts,” “contacts,” “interactions,” or simply as “calls.”) The alternative channel contacts are generally susceptible to CTI-based processing at least to the same extent as conventional telephone calls, and the benefits of computer-based management apply to them as well.

[0007] A typical modern call center is a complicated technological amalgam of hardware and software residing in whole or in part on a telecommunications network. Provisioning such a call center for an enterprise can be a lengthy, technically involved process performed by “integrators”—technicians, engineers, and programmers highly skilled in combining computer equipment, telecommunication equipment, and software from various manufacturers. Consequently, the time and costs involved in provisioning a call center may be substantial, and the ability to minimize them may provide an important competitive advantage. It is therefore desirable to enable provisioning call centers quickly and without massive efforts of trained and highly compensated specialists.

[0008] Call centers are often provisioned and hosted for clients-subscribers by providers of telecommunication services, for example, long distance telephone carriers (Telcos) and application service providers (ASPs), . Thus, provisioning a call center may involve discussions between the representatives of a long distance carrier and an enterprise to define, for example, functionality of the call center; its limitations; and the capabilities available to the enterprise, such as the number and skills of the enterprise's agents. The definitions tend to be made without sufficient precision, necessitating redesigns with their concomitant additional delays and costs. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a high-level design tool for defining and provisioning a call center. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to push out the design tool's interface to a subscriber, to enable the subscriber to self-provision and administer a call center using non-technical employees, with little involvement by the service provider, such as an ASP or a Telco.

[0009] Some of the information used by a call center may be sensitive and confidential, i.e., information that the subscriber-enterprise prefers to keep in secure storage. For example, the call center may be capable of identifying a calling party-customer through automatic number identification (ANI), retrieving the customer's data such as history of the customer's interactions, and routing the call to an appropriate agent based on that data. Customer information, however, is usually kept confidential for at least three reasons. First, there are customer expectations of privacy. Second, the subscriber-enterprise does not want its competitors to use the information. And third, the enterprise may want to market the information itself. There may also exist other types of sensitive information, e.g., rules for vectoring inbound calls. To keep the information protected, the enterprise may not want to entrust a copy of its database to the telecommunications service provider or to an unsecure server. Therefore, it would be desirable to allow a subscriber to provision a call center using third-party resources while not providing the third-party with a copy of the subscriber's database.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is directed to a network-based company call center comprising: call-center resources running on a third-party network, the resources including a first server and a second resource; a third server running on a private network of the company behind the company's firewall; a database for storing sensitive information, the database running on the private network behind the firewall, the database communicating with the third server; wherein when the second resource generates sensitive data, it transmits the sensitive data to the database through the first server and the third server.

[0011] The call center may further include a fourth resource that requests and obtains information from the database through the first server and the third server.

[0012] The second resource may erase the generated sensitive data after transmitting it to the database, and the fourth resource may erase the information obtained from the database after the fourth resource no longer needs the obtained information.

[0013] The call center may further comprise a computer with a graphical user interface, running a program that enables the computer's operator to define, modify, and provision the call center from a wide area network such as the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will now be explained, by way of examples only, with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying Figures where:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a distributed call center architecture with secure storage for sensitive data and Internet-based administration, supervision, and interaction managers; and

[0016] FIGS. 2-96 illustrate screen outputs of a browser-based call center Administration Manager.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates the architecture of an embodiment of a distributed call center. The call center's resources 112 and 114 run on a private network 110, for example an intranet or an extranet, of an ASP or a Telco. The resources include an automatic call distributor (ACD) 114 and the remaining resources 112. Note that the call center resources may be distributed or concentrated on one or a few clustered servers. An example of a distributed call center can be found in the related copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/638,274; another example of a network-based call center can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,870 to Miloslavsky. The call center resources 112 and 114 communicate with an Internet Manager Server (IMS) 116 over connections 122 and 124. In the representative embodiment of FIG. 1, these two connections are TCP/IP connections.

[0018] In a distributed call center architecture, the agents can be located anywhere. Thus, browser-based interaction manager 144 runs on one of the agent workstations in wide area network 140, e.g., the Internet. The interaction manager 144 can receive and send information through the wide area network 140. It may also have additional connections to the call center resources. For example, the interaction manager may be connected to a PBX in order to receive inbound calls vectored by the automatic call distributor 114 to the interaction manager 144 or to telephone 145 coupled to the interaction manager 144.

[0019] Similarly, browser-based supervision manager 146 also connects to the call center through the wide area network 140. The supervision manager 146 may have all or some of the capabilities of the interaction manager 144, and additional—i.e., supervisory—capabilities. The supervisory capabilities may include, for example, obtaining real-time reports and broadcasts on network usage and agent statistics, monitoring real-time activities of agents and of other network users, recording user activities, secret or three-party monitoring of transactions, sending instant messages to users for network alerts, replacing agents during contacts with the clients (barge-in), closing down user or agent conversations, and logging users off the call center.

[0020] The administration manager 142 includes an interface through which the representatives of the enterprise-subscriber initially configure and later administer (e.g., modify) the call center and the call center's resources. The administration manager 142 controls the call center resources by sending commands to the Internet manager server 116 via web server 162. Located behind firewall 150, the web server 162 runs in the demilitarized (secure) zone 160 of the enterprise's private network. To establish a session between the browser-based administration manager 142 and a call center resource, the administration manager 142 “pings” a Java™ servlet running on the web server 162 through connections 132 a and 132 b using, for example, http port 80. (By “pinging” the servlet we mean sending packets to probe and establish a connection with the servlet.) The servlet receives the ping message and responds via connections 134 a and 134 b, effectively opening, identifying, and maintaining the session with the administration manager 142. Once the servlet assigns an ID to the session, it can communicate securely with the administration manager 142. After receiving the configuration data from the administration manager 142, the servlet running on the web server 162 communicates the data to the Internet manager server 116 over secure connections 130 a and 130 b.

[0021] In an analogous fashion, the Internet manager server 116 conveys data back to the administration manager 142 via the connections 130 a/130 b, the web server 162, and the connections 132 a/132 b. More generally, the web server 162 passes data inputted at the browser-based applications, e.g., the administration manager 142,the interaction manager 144, and the supervision manager 146, to the Internet manager server 116 and through it to other call center resources. The Internet manager server 116 thus acts as a communication bridge between the call center resources 112/114 and the browser-based client applications running on the wide area network 140. Further, the Internet manager server 116 serves as a bridge between the call center resources 112/114 and clients and servers running in the enterprise's secure zone 160 behind the firewall 150.

[0022] In the call center of FIG. 1, the connections, including the connections 130 a and 130 b, are TCP/IP connections, as are connections 122 and 124 between the Internet manager server 116 and other call center resources 112/114. Using these TCP/IP connections, the Internet manager server 116 provides secure communications between the other resources 112/114 and the clients running on the wide area network 140.

[0023] The Internet manager server 116 may perform additional functions, including those that require frequent message exchanges with Internet-based clients and servers within the enterprise's secure zone 160. For example, in an embodiment of a call center in accordance with the description in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/638,274, the Internet manager server 116 replaces the collaboration server, the chat server, and the unified mail server. It may further provide private aliasing and resource and load balancing.

[0024] The call center administration scheme described can also enhance security and reliability of data management in a distributed call center. As was discussed in the BACKGROUND section of this document, the enterprise implementing the call center may be reluctant to expose its sensitive data to the vagaries of a wide area network or even to the ASP's or Telco's own private network. The sensitive data may include, for example, call detail data and history of customer interactions; quality control records, possibly including recordings of monitored interactions; customer consent to transaction recording; customers' names and addresses; billing permissions and credit authorizations; email and chat files; time stamps relating to the above records; and customer-identifying interaction origination data, such as customer telephone numbers or email sender data. The sensitive data may be generated by the call center resources 112/114 or by the interaction manager 144 during customer interactions. Alternatively, previously-generated sensitive data may be accessed by the call center resources 112/114, e.g., when ANI data is used for vectoring incoming calls; or the data may be accessed by the interaction manager 144, e.g., when an agent at the interaction manager 144 needs to see a record of an earlier call.

[0025] In the call center architecture depicted in FIG. 1, the enterprise's sensitive information resides in database 166, within the enterprise's secure zone 160. When new sensitive information is generated, for example by one of the call center resources 112, the resource sends the information to the Internet manager server 116 through the connection 124. The Internet manager server 116 transmits the information to the web server 162 via the TCP/IP connections 130 a/130 b by the process described above. Next, the web server 162 writes the newly-generated sensitive information to the database 166 by generating an SQL command and sending it via connection 168. After the information is written to the database 166, the local copy of the information is erased from the resource that had generated the information.

[0026] When one of the call center resources requires data from the database 166, the resource informs the Internet manager server 116 of the need. The Internet manager server then establishes a session to transmit an appropriate request to the web server 162, or uses an existing session for this purpose. The web server 162 generates an SQL query to the database 166, and the data responsive to the query is returned via the same route to the resource that originated the request, e.g., the automatic call distributor 114. When the resource no longer needs the data, it erases its local copy of the data.

[0027] Turning now to the administration manager interface, FIGS. 2-96 illustrate interactive screens of an embodiment of the administration manager as the screens appear in a version of Microsoft Corporation's Internet Explorer web browser. The specific embodiment illustrated is Administration Manager Browser Version 4.0 (“Administration Manager” hereinafter), an object-oriented call center administration manager expected to be marketed soon by TELEPHONY@tWORK, Inc. Generally, any form-capable browser, such as Netscape Corporation's Communicator 6, running on any platform, such as a Wintel PC, Macintosh, or Unix, can perform this function.

[0028] To provision a call center initially, or to change its parameters at a later time, the user first directs the browser to go the site designated for the call center's administration, and then logs into the site. FIG. 2 is a log in screen of the Administration Manager. Here, as in the other figures, the “http” address shown in the browser's Address window is not a real address as far as is known to the inventors; it is used for illustration only. To log in, the user enters the user's identification and password in the User ID and Password fields, and then left-clicks on (“clicks” or “selects”) the Login button.

[0029]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate screens used in creating a new Company object, i.e., creating a new call center object for an enterprise. The steps involved are as follows:

[0030] 1. Select the Add a Company button from the upper menu in the Administration Manager window;

[0031] 2. Enter the name of the Company in the Name field; if the Company has an Alias, enter it in the Alias field;

[0032] 3. Enter the address of the Company in the Address field;

[0033] 4. Enter the city in which the Company is located in the City field;

[0034] 5. Enter the state in which the Company is located in the State field;

[0035] 6. Select the country in which the Company is located by selecting one from the Country drop-down list;

[0036] 7. Enter the zip (postal) code in which the Company is located in the Zip field;

[0037] 8. Enter the Company's web site address in the Web Site field;

[0038] 9. Enter the maximum number of simultaneous interactions for this Company in the Maximum Number of Simultaneous Interactions field;

[0039] 10. Complete the Contact Name, Title, Phone, Extension, Email, Home Phone, Pager, and Mobile fields for a Primary and an Alternative Contact, as desired;

[0040] 11. When the form is completed, click the Next button to continue;

[0041] 12. Complete the First Name, Last Name, Username, Alias, Password and Confirm, Hired Date, Address, City, Phone, State/Province, Country, and ZipCode fields for the Administrator, as desired; and

[0042] 13. When the form is completed, click the Finish button to create the Company.

[0043] Note that an Administrator object is configured together with the Company object.

[0044] Not all of the information requested by the screens in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in most screens of the Administration Manager, must be supplied by the user. For example, the Web Site field may be left blank.

[0045]FIG. 5 illustrates modifying an existing Company object. The steps involved in a modification are listed below:

[0046] 1. Select the Company to modify by clicking on that Company from the given list on the left-hand side of the window;

[0047] 2. Click the Edit button under the Company name once the Company has been selected; the Edit Company window opens;

[0048] 3. Modify information as necessary;

[0049] 4. Select the Apply button to save the changes; and

[0050] 5. Select the OK button to return to the main Company window.

[0051]FIG. 6 illustrates deletion of a Company object. The steps involved in deletion are listed below.

[0052] 1. Select the Company to delete by clicking on that Company from the given list on the left-hand side of the window;

[0053] 2. Click the Delete button under the Company name once the Company has been selected; and

[0054] 3. A notice will appear asking for confirmation of the delete command; click OK to delete the Company.

[0055]FIG. 7 is the log out screen. The user selects the Log Out button from the upper menu and receives a confirmation notice. The log out step is taken after the user completes the steps of creating, deleting, and modifying Company or Companies associated with the User ID and the Password entered during the log in process.

[0056]FIG. 8 illustrates a Skill object creation. A skill is a capability parameter of an Agent or of an automated end-point. The following steps are involved in creating a Skill object:

[0057] 1. Select the Skill tab from beneath the Company you wish to add a skill to;

[0058] 2. Right-click in the skill window and select Add Skill;

[0059] 3. Enter the Skill Name in the Skill Name field;

[0060] 4. Enter the Skill Description in the Skill Description field;

[0061] 5. Click Apply to save the skill; and

[0062] 6. Click the OK button to return to the main Skill window.

[0063]FIG. 9 illustrates editing a Skill object. The steps involved are as follows:

[0064] 1. Select the Skill tab from beneath the Company you wish to edit a skill for;

[0065] 2. Right-click in the skill window and select Edit Skill;

[0066] 3. Make the necessary changes;

[0067] 4. Click Apply to save the changes made to the skill; and

[0068] 5. Click the OK button to return to the main Skill window.

[0069]FIG. 10 illustrates deletion of a Skill object. The steps performed to delete a Skill object are as follows:

[0070] 1. Select the Skill tab from beneath the Company you wish to delete a skill from;

[0071] 2. Right-click on the selected skill in the skill window and select Delete Skill;

[0072] 3. A message will appear asking for a confirmation of the Delete command; click OK to delete the skill.

[0073] FIGS. 11-15 illustrate creation of an Agent object. In this example, the object corresponds to a person; it is also possible to have automated endpoints for receipt and even initiation of contacts. The steps involved in Agent object creation are as follows:

[0074] 1. Select the Agents tab from beneath the Company you wish to add an Agent to;

[0075] 2. Right-click in the Agent window and select Add Agent;

[0076] 3. Enter the User Name in the First Name and Last Name fields;

[0077] 4. In the Username field, enter a Username for the Agent to have when logged in;

[0078] 5. Enter the Agent Alias name in the Alias field;

[0079] 6. Enter a password in the Password field and confirm the password by re-entering it into Confirm field;

[0080] 7. The current date will be entered in the Hired Date field, but the Administrator may modify the date as desired;

[0081] 8. Determine the Permission the Agent has by selecting a title from the Permission drop-down list;

[0082] 9. Complete the remaining detail fields, as desired and click Next;

[0083] 10. To enable Call Recording in the Interaction Manager for an Agent, select the corresponding check box;

[0084] 11. If Call Recording is enabled, select the percentage of calls to be monitored by selecting a percentage from the Percentage of Recording drop-down list;

[0085] 12. Enter a number for the maximum number of Chats and maximum number of Emails to be conducted at one time by an Agent by entering them in the Max Chats and Max Emails fields;

[0086] 13. Select Agent Status that corresponds to the Interaction actions by selecting an Agent Status for each command from the drop-down lists next to Hangup, Dialing, Connect, and Idle;

[0087] 14. Enter a number (in seconds) to determine the allotted wrapup time for an Agent in the Wrapup Time field;

[0088] 15. To enable Outcomes or Long Distance Options, select the corresponding check box;

[0089] 16. When completed filling out the Agents Options and Interaction Manager Options, click Next;

[0090] 17. Enter the Agent's Email Address in the Email Address field under SMTP Information;

[0091] 18. Enter the SMTP Server name in the SMTP Server field;

[0092] 19. Enter the Incoming Mail Server name in the Incoming Mail Server field under POP Information;

[0093] 20. Enter the Agent's POP3 Account Name in the POP3 Account Name field;

[0094] 21. Enter the Agent's Password in the Password field;

[0095] 22. When completed the Agents Email Information, click Next;

[0096] 23. Fill out the corresponding information about the selected Active Address Type for that Agent (see the discussion pertaining to Setting up an Agent's Telephone/Extension); when complete, click Next.

[0097] 24. Right-click in the Skill window and select Add;

[0098] 25. Select a skill from the New Skill drop-down list that corresponds to that Agent;

[0099] 26. Enter a number from 1-100 in the Weight field to display how efficient that Agent is at that skill (e.g., “Spanish 85”);

[0100] 27. Repeat steps 24-27 to add more Skills; when done, click Next.

[0101] 28. To Activate Follow Me, select the Activate Follow Me check box;

[0102] 29. If Follow Me is activated, enter numbers for the First, Second, and Third Follow me phone numbers, as desired;

[0103] 30. Click Finish.

[0104]FIG. 16 illustrates modification of an existing Agent object. The following steps are involved in modifying an Agent object:

[0105] 1. Select the Company to be modified an Agent for from the main left-hand column;

[0106] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company previously selected;

[0107] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, then click on Edit Agent;

[0108] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent; click Apply to save these changes, and click OK when complete, to return to the main Agents window.

[0109] 5. To edit any other sections of the Agent information, right-click on the Agent to be modified and select the section to be modified (e.g. Agent Email, Agent Options, Agent Skills, etc.);

[0110] 6. Make any necessary changes to those sections; click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Agent window.

[0111]FIG. 17 illustrates deletion of an Agent. To delete an Agent, follow these steps:

[0112] 1. Select the Company from which an Agent is to be deleted by selecting a Company from the main left-hand column;

[0113] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0114] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be deleted, and click on Delete Agent.

[0115] 4. A notice will pop asking the user to confirm the deletion;

[0116] 5. Click OK to delete the Agent, or click Cancel to cancel the deletion.

[0117] FIGS. 18-22 illustrate setting up of an Agent's telephone extension. Five basic types of extensions have been defined in the Administration Manager: (1) local extension; (2) virtual extension; (3) voice over IP (VoIP) extension; (4) voice mail extension; and (5) PBX extension. In the Administration Manager, an Agent's Telephone/Extension setting is entered when the Agent is first created. FIG. 18 illustrates setting up of a local extension. The corresponding steps are as follows:

[0118] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with Agents to be modified;

[0119] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0120] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Telephone Extension;

[0121] 4. To create local extensions for users, select the MSI Extension radio button and enter the MSI ID into the MSI ID field (network administrator can provide this information);

[0122] 5. Enter the extension number in the Extension Number field;

[0123] 6. When creating a new Agent, click Next; when modifying an Agent, click Apply.

[0124]FIG. 19 illustrates creating a virtual extension. The corresponding steps are as follows:

[0125] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with Agents to be modified;

[0126] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0127] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Telephone Extension;

[0128] 4. Select the Remote Extension radio button;

[0129] 5. Enter the remote telephone number in the Remote Tel # field; (this number can be an ordinary telephone number or a cell phone number; if it is necessary to dial an international number, or a national or an area code when calling this number from the location of the server, enter those same codes in this field; do not enter a prefix (e.g., “9”) for dialing out; when the telephone rings, a message will play asking the user to confirm acceptance of the call);

[0130] 6. Enter the extension number in the Extension Number field;

[0131] 7. If creating an Agent, click Next; for an Agent modification, click Apply.

[0132] Virtual extensions preferably do not begin with the same DTMF as the call center uses to indicate outbound calls.

[0133]FIG. 20 illustrates creating a VoIP extension in a VoIP-enabled system. The corresponding steps are as follows:

[0134] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with Agents to be modified;

[0135] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0136] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Telephone Extension;

[0137] 4. Select the Voice Over IP radio button;

[0138] 5. Enter the extension number in the Extension Number field;

[0139] 6. If creating an Agent, click Next; for an Agent modification, click Apply;

[0140]FIG. 21 illustrates creating a voice mail extension, and allows an Agent's calls to be routed directly to the Agent's Mail Box. The steps for creating a voice mail extension are as follows:

[0141] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with Agents to be modified;

[0142] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0143] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Telephone Extension;

[0144] 2. Select the Voice Mail radio button;

[0145] 5. Enter the extension number in the Extension Number field;

[0146] 6. If creating an Agent, click Next. For an Agent modification, click Apply;

[0147]FIG. 22 illustrates creating a PBX extension. The corresponding steps are as follows:

[0148] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with Agents to be modified;

[0149] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0150] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Telephone Extension;

[0151] 2. Select the PBX radio button and enter a telephone number in the tel. field;

[0152] 5. Enter the extension number in the Extension Number field;

[0153] 6. If creating an Agent, click Next; for an Agent modification, click Apply.

[0154] When an agent-employee leaves the Company, the Administration Manager allows the Company to document the time of and the reason for the departure. This is illustrated in FIG. 23. The steps for documenting the departure are as follows:

[0155] 1. Select the Company from which an Agent has departed from the main left-hand column;

[0156] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0157] 3. Right-click on the Agent who has departed, and click on User Departure Reason;

[0158] 4. Select a Departure Reason from the Departure Reasons in the drop-down list (the list is compiled from the Agent Departure Reason Library discussed later in this document);

[0159] 5. Enter the date of departure for the Agent in the Departure Date field;

[0160] 6. Enter any notes about the Departure Reason in the Note window;

[0161] 7. Click Apply to save the Departure Reason for that Agent; and

[0162] 8. Click OK to return to the main Agent Window.

[0163] For each Company, the Administrator has the option of assigning Agents to a designated Supervisor who will be able to view the assigned Agents' screens. FIG. 24 illustrates assignment of Agents to a Supervisor, i.e., modification of Supervisor Rights, with the corresponding steps being as follows:

[0164] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which Supervisor Rights are to be modified;

[0165] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0166] 3. Right-click on the Supervisor whose rights are to be modified and then click on Supervisor/Agents;

[0167] 4. From all the Agents listed in the left of the All Agents window, select the corresponding Agents for that Supervisor by clicking on the Agent and then clicking the>button;

[0168] 5. The Agents appearing in the right Agents Supervised window are the Agents being viewed by the selected Supervisor; to add all the Agents to a specified Supervisor, click the >>button; and

[0169] 6. Click Apply and OK to return to the main Agent window.

[0170]FIG. 25 illustrates the following steps performed during addition of Skills to an Agent:

[0171] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which skills of Agents are to be modified;

[0172] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0173] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Agent Skills;

[0174] 4. Right-click in the Skill Window and click on Add;

[0175] 5. Select a Skill to add to that Agent from the New Skill drop-down list;

[0176] 6. Select a Weight for that Skill (1-100) and enter it into the Weight field;

[0177] 7. Repeat steps 4-6 to add more Skills for that Agent;

[0178] 8. Click the Apply button to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Agent window.

[0179]FIG. 26 illustrates the task of deleting Skills from an Agent. The task involves eight steps:

[0180] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which Agent Skills are to be deleted;

[0181] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0182] 3. Right-click on the Agent whose Skill is to be deleted, and click on Agent Skills;

[0183] 4. Right-click in the Skill Window on the Skill that is to be deleted, and click on Delete; the Skill will be removed from that Agent;

[0184] 5. Repeat steps 3-4 to delete additional Skills for each Agent, as needed; and

[0185] 6. Click the Apply button to save changes, and click OK to return to the main Agent window.

[0186]FIG. 27 illustrates modifying an Agent's email parameters. The steps involved are listed below:

[0187] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to be modified;

[0188] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company previously selected;

[0189] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Agent Email;

[0190] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent's Email information;

[0191] 5. Click the Apply button to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Agent Window.

[0192] Configuring the Call Follow Me parameter for an Agent provides callers with the option of reaching the corresponding Agent at remote numbers. The person configuring this option should consider whether or not these numbers require any toll, long distance, or international prefixes when dialed from the Call Center. That is, for example, if it is necessary for the user to dial a “1” and the area code preceding a certain number when dialed from the Call Center, the number entered in the Follow Me fields should also contain these prefixes.

[0193] Modifying an Agent's Call Follow Me assignment is illustrated in FIG. 28. The following steps need to be performed to accomplish this process:

[0194] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to be modified;

[0195] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0196] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Agent Follow;

[0197] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent's Follow Me Information;

[0198] 5. Click the Apply button to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Agent Window.

[0199] The Interaction Manager Options allow configuring of individualized options for an Agent's Interaction Manager interface. Modifying Agent options, including the Interaction Manager Options, is illustrated in FIG. 29. Five fields relating to Agent status allow the Administrator to designate the status that is displayed during various events. For example, the default status that is displayed when an Agent is connected to a client is “Talking”. This status conveys to the system that the Agent is busy, and is not available to take another call. The Agent can view this status designation at the bottom of his or her Interaction Manager browser. The Agent's supervisor can view this status information alongside other information regarding the corresponding Agent in the Supervision Manager's browser. An Administrator may change the default status selections, but should keep in mind that certain key status names communicate commands to the system because they change internal logic states of the Call Center. When such a change is made, the agent may have to select manually the appropriate option via the Interaction Manager. In other words, the agent can select a new status by clicking the “Available” or “On Break” buttons, or by making a selection from the “Change Status” button on the Call Control tab.

[0200] The Wrapup Time field allows the Administrator to assign the length of time an Agent may use to “wrap up” the interaction, e.g., write up necessary paperwork. Once this time limit has expired, the Agent's status will be automatically changed to “Available,” which means that new interactions may be directed to the Agent.

[0201] The Outcomes check-box allows the Administrator to choose whether or not the selected Agent has access to the Outcomes window in the Interaction Manager.

[0202] The Long Distance Options section allows the Administrator to enable or disable an Agent to make long distance calls.

[0203] The following five steps are performed to modify Agent options:

[0204] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which options of an Agent are to be modified;

[0205] 2. Click on the Agents tab under the Company selected;

[0206] 3. Right-click on the Agent to be modified, and click on Agent Options;

[0207] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent's Options Information;

[0208] 5. Click the Apply button to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Agent Window.

[0209] A Workgroup object is a set of Agent objects sharing some parameter or corresponding to individual Agents with common work assignment. Adding a workgroup to a Company involves the following steps, illustrated in FIG. 30:

[0210] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to add a workgroup to;

[0211] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0212] 3. Right-click in the Workgroup window, and click on Add Workgroup;

[0213] 4. Enter a name for the Workgroup in the Workgroup Name field;

[0214] 5. Enter a name for the Workgroup Alias in the Workgroup Alias field;

[0215] 6. Enter a brief description of the Workgroup into the Workgroup Description field;

[0216] 7. Designate a Workgroup Administrator by selecting one from the Workgroup Administrator drop-down list (this list is compiled from the list of Agents; to edit to this list, simply add or delete Agents from the Agents tab);

[0217] 8. Enter a length of time to be allowed for the Average Wait Time of each call;

[0218] 9. For the ACD options, click all the check boxes that apply to the Workgroup (e.g., if a Queue Time message is to be played, select that check box);

[0219] 10. Click Apply to save the Workgroup, and click the OK button to return to the Workgroup Window.

[0220] Predetermined types of calls can be evenly distributed among all the Agents in a workgroup. For example, all calls directed to “sales” can be routed to the Agents in the “Sales” workgroup so that an Agent in the workgroup who has not received a call for the longest period will always receive the next inbound call, provided that the Agent's line is free and the Agent is available when the call comes in.

[0221] Calls on a “direct-dial” telephone number can be routed directly to a workgroup using the Routing sub-tab located on the Phone section of the Projects tab. To achieve that, simply specify the telephone number that the callers will dial, or another type of physical channel, and define the Workgroup.

[0222] Modifying a Workgroup is illustrated in relation to FIG. 31. The process for modifying a Workgroup is as follows:

[0223] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Workgroup is to be modified;

[0224] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0225] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be modified, and click on Edit Workgroup;

[0226] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Workgroup Information;

[0227] 5. Click Apply to save the changes made and click OK when complete to return to the main Workgroup window.

[0228] Adding Agents to a Workgroup is illustrated in FIG. 32. The process for adding Agents is as follows:

[0229] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which Agents are to be added to a Workgroup;

[0230] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0231] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be modified, and click on Workgroup Agents;

[0232] 4. Select an Agent from the list of All Agents;

[0233] 5. Click the right-facing arrow (>) button to add an Agent to the list of Agents in the Workgroup;

[0234] 6. Repeat steps 6-7 to add more Agents to the Workgroup;

[0235] 7. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Workgroup window.

[0236] Removing Agents from a Workgroup is illustrated in FIG. 33. The process for removing Agents is as follows:

[0237] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which an Agent is to be removed from a Workgroup;

[0238] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0239] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be modified, and click on Workgroup Agents;

[0240] 4. Select an Agent from the list of Agents in the Workgroup;

[0241] 5. Click the left-facing arrow (<) button to remove the Agent from the list of Agents in the Workgroup;

[0242] 6. Repeat steps 6-7 until to delete more Agents from the Workgroup;

[0243] 7. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Workgroup window.

[0244] Addition of Skills to a Workgroup and deletion of Skills from a Workgroup are illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35, respectively. These functions change the Skills of each Agent in the affected Workgroup. Note that the total value of the Skills in a Workgroup should equal 100 percent.

[0245] The process for adding Skills is as follows:

[0246] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to be modified;

[0247] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0248] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be modified, and click on Workgroup Skills;

[0249] 4. Right-click in the Skill Window and click on Add;

[0250] 5. Select a Skill from the New Skill drop-down list, which is compiled from the Skills tab;

[0251] 6. Enter a Value for that Skill from 1-100 in the Weight field;

[0252] 7. Repeat steps 4-6 until all appropriate Skills for that Agent have been added.

[0253] The process for deleting Skills from a Workgroup is as follows:

[0254] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to be modified;

[0255] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0256] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be modified, and click on Workgroup Skills;

[0257] 4. Right-click on the Skill to be deleted and click on Delete;

[0258] 5. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the skill; and

[0259] 6. Repeat steps 4-5 to delete more Skills, as needed.

[0260] Deletion of a Workgroup is illustrated in FIG. 36. Note that the Agents of the deleted workgroup are not deleted. The process for deleting a Workgroup is as follows:

[0261] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a workgroup is to be deleted;

[0262] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0263] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to be deleted, and click on Delete Workgroup;

[0264] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Workgroup.

[0265] Q&A URLs define screen pop-up windows that can be used in a Call Flow object. (Call Flow will be explained later in this document.) In the Administration Manager, Q&A and other URLs must be created in the URL Library before they can be assigned to the Q&A URL tab. Creating a Q&A URL is illustrated in FIG. 37. Its use during Call Flow definition is illustrated in FIG. 38.

[0266] The process of creating Q&A URLs is as follows:

[0267] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Q&A URL is to be added;

[0268] 2. Click on the QA URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0269] 3. Right-click in the QA URL Window, and click on Add QA URL;

[0270] 4. Enter a name for the Q&A in the Name field;

[0271] 5. Select from the list of URLs given by selecting one from the URL drop-down list;

[0272] 6. Enter a description of the QA URL in the Description field;

[0273] 7. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main QA URLs Window.

[0274] Modifying a Q&A URL is illustrated in FIG. 39. The Q&A modification process is as follows:

[0275] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Q&A URL is to be modified;

[0276] 2. Click on the QA URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0277] 3. Right-click in the QA URL Window, and click on Edit QA URL;

[0278] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Q&A URL;

[0279] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main QA URLs Window.

[0280] Deleting a Q&A URL is illustrated in FIG. 40. The deletion process is as follows:

[0281] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a Q&A URL is to be deleted;

[0282] 2. Click on the QA URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0283] 3. Right-click in the QA URL Window, and click on Delete QA URL;

[0284] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the QA URL;

[0285] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main QA URLs Window.

[0286] Script URLs, also known as Interaction Scripts, are also used in Call Flow objects. When creating a Call Flow under the Routing sub-tab (located on the Phone section of the Projects tab), Interaction Scripts and Q&A window pops can be associated with incoming calls.

[0287] Creating an Interaction Script is illustrated in FIG. 41. The use of an Interaction Script in Call Flow definition is illustrated if FIG. 42.

[0288] The process of creating an Interaction Script is as follows:

[0289] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to which a Script URL is be added;

[0290] 2. Click on the Scripts URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0291] 3. Right-click in the Script URL Window, and click on Add Script URL;

[0292] 4. Enter a name for the Q&A in the Name field;

[0293] 5. Select from the list of URLs given by selecting one from the URL drop-down list;

[0294] 6. Enter a description of the Script URL in the Description field;

[0295] 7. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Scripts URLs Window.

[0296] Editing a Script URL is illustrated in FIG. 43. The editing process is as follows:

[0297] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Script URL is to be modified;

[0298] 2. Click on the Scripts URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0299] 3. Right-click in the Scripts URL Window, and click on Edit Script URL;

[0300] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Script URL;

[0301] 5. Click Apply to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Script URLs Window.

[0302] Deleting a Script URL is illustrated in FIG. 44. The deleting process is as follows:

[0303] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a Script URL is to be deleted;

[0304] 2. Click on the Scripts URLs tab under the Company selected;

[0305] 3. Right-click in the Scripts URL Window, and click on Delete QA URL;

[0306] 4. A message will pop asking for confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Scripts URL;

[0307] 5. Click Apply to save the changes, and click OK to return to the main Scripts URLs Window.

[0308] In the Administration Manager, a Call Flow object is a series of voice menus configurable by the system administrator to enable callers to route their calls to individual extensions, departments, fax resources, pre-recorded informational messages, or to additional submenus.

[0309] An Auto-Attendant Menu is a menu that answers a call in a Call Flow process. An Auto-Attendant menu may include a welcome greeting. It may also allow the caller to select other options by entering digits, e.g., to access the Company's directory, or to transfer to a specific extension, to a fax machine, to a specific workgroup, or to select an additional menu.

[0310] Before a Call Flow can be created in the Administration Manager, four preliminary steps need to be performed:

[0311] 1. Define the extensions for the Agents on the system under the Telephone Extension section of the Agents tab.

[0312] 2. Define one or more Workgroups under the Workgroups tab.

[0313] 3. Define the various menus that the Call Flow will include when a Project Menu, located on the Project Menus tab, is created. This last step is illustrated in FIG. 45. It may be preferable to start menu definitions with the final menu in the Call Flow and work up, because some of the higher-level menus may include links to the lower level menus (i.e., to the menus created earlier). The individual menus can be modified at a later time, when the structure of the Call Flow is better defined. Because callers will be making menu choices with touch-tone entries, every touch-tone may need to be specified under the Define Menu Events section when adding a Project Menu.

[0314] 4. In the Define Menu Events section, define whether the caller will be routed to an auto-attendant, a menu, directly to a Workgroup, to an individual extension, or to an individual's fax mailbox. This is illustrated in FIG. 46.

[0315] A telephone number or physical channel that will answer with fax-tones using a shared fax resource, e.g., a Dialogic VFX-equipped phone system, can be specified when defining Touch Tone Events for Project Menus. The steps for defining events to route calls directly to a fax resource are listed below and illustrated in FIG. 47.

[0316] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project Menu is to be modified;

[0317] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0318] 3. Right-click on a Project Menu and select Edit Menu;

[0319] 4. From that Project Menu page, click Next to add Touch Tone Events;

[0320] 5. Click on a number on the keypad in the Define Touch-Tone Events window;

[0321] 6. To route calls to a Workgroup fax, select the Workgroup check box, select a Workgroup from the Workgroup drop-down list, and select the Route to Workgroup Fax radio button; to route the call to a Fax associated with an extension, select the Extension check box; choose an Agent from the drop-down list and then select the Route to Agent Fax radio button;

[0322] 7. Click the Update button to save the Touch Tone Event;

[0323] 8. The new default menu event will now appear in the Menu Events Summary window;

[0324] 9. Click the Apply button to save the changes to the Project Menu and click OK to return to the main Project Menu window.

[0325] A Default Link is a recorded “menu” with no touch-tone options. Essentially, it is a recorded message that will play for the caller before the caller is routed to a predefined destination, such as an auto-attendant, a menu, a workgroup or an individual extension, or a Workgroup or an individual fax mailbox.

[0326] To create a Default Link for a Project Menu, perform the following steps:

[0327] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project Menu is to be modified;

[0328] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0329] 3. Right-click on the Project Menu to which a Default Link is to be added and select Edit Menu;

[0330] 4. From that Project Menu page, click Next to add Touch Tone Events;

[0331] 5. Select the Default Link button from the Define Touch-Tone Events section;

[0332] 6. Select an appropriate check box or radio button such as for routing a call to a Workgroup Extension, Workgroup Fax, Agent Extension, Agent Fax, Disconnecting the caller, Playing a Directory, accessing the Mailbox Manager, or Playing an Invalid Entry Message;

[0333] 7. Click the Update button to save the Default Menu; the new Default Menu event will now appear in the Menu Events Summary section, as FIG. 48 illustrates;

[0334] 9. Select the Finish button to save the changes and return to the main Project Menu window.

[0335] A Voice Menu is a recorded message accompanied by a set of available options that a caller can access with touch-tone entries on a touch-tone phone. When adding a Project Menu, the various menus that a Call Flow will include under the Menu Information page can be defined. Again, it may be preferable to start with the last menu and work up, making changes as necessary. And because the callers will interact with the menus using touch-tone entries, every touch-tone may need to be defined for that menu.

[0336] To define a touch-tone menu event, select a digit on the telephone keypad graphic and select the event that this touch-tone key will trigger. For example, performing the following six steps will result in a caller who selects “2” on the touch-tone telephone being routed to the selected extension in the Customer Service Workgroup, as is illustrated in FIG. 49:

[0337] 1. Select the number two “2” on the keypad;

[0338] 2. Select the Workgroups check box;

[0339] 3. Select the Route to Workgroup Extension radio button;

[0340] 4. Select a Workgroup from the Workgroup drop-down list;

[0341] 5. Click the Update button to save the new event;

[0342] 6. Select the Finish button to save the changes and return to the main Project Menu window.

[0343] To delete one of these events, perform the following steps:

[0344] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which the event in a Project Menu is to be deleted;

[0345] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0346] 3. Right-click on the Project Menu from which to the Menu Event is to be deleted;

[0347] 4. From the Project Menu page, click Next to modify the Touch Tone Events;

[0348] 5. To delete one of the defined Menu Events for a Project Menu, click the number on the keypad that is assigned to that defined Menu Event and click the Delete button;

[0349] 6. Once the Menu Event is deleted, the save the Project Menu by selecting the Finish button, thereby updating the Project Menu after the deletion.

[0350] Adding a Project Menu is illustrated in FIG. 50. The process is as follows:

[0351] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company you to which a Project Menu is to be added;

[0352] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0353] 3. Right-click on the Project Menu you wish to add Menu Information for and select Create Menu;

[0354] 4. Enter the name of the menu to be created in the Menu Name field;

[0355] 5. If desired, select the check box of any appropriate Menu Action such as Play Prompt (entering the .wav file name in the .wav file field), Allow Caller to Select Extension, or Allow Type Ahead;

[0356] 6. Enter the number of retries before the system disconnects the caller;

[0357] 7. Enter the wait time in seconds before replaying a menu;

[0358] 8. Select Next and define any necessary menu events (see the description of defining Menu Events);

[0359] 9. Click the Finish button when complete to save and return to the main Project Menu window.

[0360] When the Get Digit option shown in FIG. 50 is checked, the system will wait for a digit to be entered by the caller. When the Record option is checked, the caller's actions in the Menu will be recorded.

[0361] To modify a Project Menu, perform the following steps:

[0362] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project Menu is to be modified;

[0363] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0364] 3. Right-click on the Project Menu in which Menu Information is to be modified and select Edit Menu;

[0365] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Menu Information;

[0366] 8. Select Next and modify any necessary menu events (see the section pertaining to defining Menu Events);

[0367] 9. Click the Finish button when done to save and return to the main Project Menu window.

[0368] To delete a Project Menu, perform the following steps:

[0369] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a Project Menu is to be deleted;

[0370] 2. Click on the Project Menus tab under the Company selected;

[0371] 3. Right-click on the Project Menu to be delete and select Delete Menu;

[0372] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click Yes to delete the Project Menu.

[0373] Creating a Project is illustrated in FIG. 51. The process is as follows:

[0374] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Project is to be created;

[0375] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0376] 3. Right-click in the Project window and select Create Project;

[0377] 4. Enter the new Project name in the Name field;

[0378] 5. Enter the Project Alias in the Alias field;

[0379] 6. Enter the Project Description in the Description field;

[0380] 7. Click the Apply button to save the Project; a list of Project types will appear in the left-hand portion of the Projects window. Select one of these types (the Project Types can be configured separately as is explained below, in the portion of this document pertaining to configuration of the Phone, Predictive, Chat, Email, and Web Callback types).

[0381] Modifying a Project is illustrated in FIG. 52. The process is as follows:

[0382] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project is to be modified;

[0383] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0384] 3. Right-click on the Project to be modified and select Edit Project;

[0385] 4. Make any necessary changes; if any changes are made to the Project types, click on the Save button within each type tab to save the update;

[0386] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0387] To delete a Project, perform the following steps:

[0388] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a Project is to be deleted;

[0389] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0390] 3. Right-click on the Project to be deleted and select Delete Project;

[0391] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click the OK button to delete the Project.

[0392] In the Administration Manager, a Project may be one of five types: (1) Phone, (2) Predictive, (3) Chat, (4) Email, and (5) Web Callback. FIGS. 53 and 54 illustrate transforming a previously-created Project into a Phone-type Project. The process is as follows:

[0393] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to in which a Project is to be transformed into a Phone Project;

[0394] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0395] 3. Right-click on the Project to be modified and select Edit Project;

[0396] 4. Select the Phone Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0397] 5. Enter the phone number to be used for routing in the DNIS field;

[0398] 6. On the Routing sub-tab select Route to Workgroup Extension, Route to Workgroup Fax, an Route to Agent Extension, Route to Agent Fax, or a Menu;

[0399] 7. Select a Script to be played from the Script drop-down list and/or a Q&A from the Q&A drop-down list;

[0400] 8. Select whether to validate the ANI by selecting Yes, No, or Only if not Received from the Validate ANI section;

[0401] 9. To get a customer's identification when the customer calls in (and the ID has not yet been determined), select Yes from the Get Custom ID section;

[0402] 10. When done with the Routing sub-tab, select the Options sub-tab to finish the configuration;

[0403] 11. To have the Follow Me Option enabled for the Project's Phone Type, select the check box next to Enable Follow Me, located under the Define Follow Me Menu section;

[0404] 12. To have a Menu played before or after a caller reaches the Project's Voice Mail, select a Menu from the Before VM drop-down list or from the After VM drop-down list, located under the Voice Mail Menu Options;

[0405] 13. Scroll down from the Options sub-tab and click on the Save button to apply the configuration to the selected Project;

[0406] 14. Click Apply to save the Project's Phone Type and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0407]FIG. 55 illustrates transforming a Project into a Predictive Project. The process is as follows:

[0408] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project is to be transformed;

[0409] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0410] 3. Right-click on the Project to be transformed and select Edit Project;

[0411] 4. Select the Predictive Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0412] 5. Select a workgroup for the Predictive Project by selecting one from the Workgroup drop-down list located under the Projects Predictive section;

[0413] 6. Enter the minimum number of Predictive calls for the Project in the Minimum field;

[0414] 7. Enter the maximum number of Predictive calls for the Project in the Maximum field;

[0415] 8. Select a Script ID for the Predictive type from the Script ID drop-down list;

[0416] 9. Select a Q&A URL for the Predictive type from the QA URL drop-down list;

[0417] 10. Click the Save button to apply the configuration to the selected Project;

[0418] 11. Click Apply to save the Project's Predictive Type and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0419]FIG. 56 illustrates transforming a Project into a Chat Project. The process is as follows:

[0420] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project is to be transformed

[0421] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0422] 3. Right-click on the Project to be transformed into a Chat type Project and select Edit Project;

[0423] 4. Select the Chat Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0424] 5. Select Project Chat Workgroup Name from the Workgroup Name drop-down list;

[0425] 6. Select the First Push Page for the Project Chat type from the First Push Page drop-down list;

[0426] 7. Enter a time (in seconds) into the First Push Page Time field to determine when the first page is to be pushed to the caller;

[0427] 8. Select URLs from the drop-down lists to determine the Last Page, Disconnect Page, and No Agents Available page, as needed;

[0428] 9. Click the Save button to apply the Chat configuration to the selected Project;

[0429] 10. Click Apply to save the Project's Chat Type and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0430] The Administration Manager provides the capability to push a set of pages from an Auto Push URL List to a caller while the caller is waiting to receive a Chat message from an Agent. Adding pages to the Auto Push URL List is illustrated in FIG. 57. The process is as follows:

[0431] 1. Right-click on the Project for which push pages are to be created and select Edit Project;

[0432] 2. Select the Chat Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0433] 3. Select a URL from the Push URL List drop-down list and enter the time duration the page will be displayed in the Set Time field (the Push URL List is discussed later in this document);

[0434] 4. To add the page to the Auto Push List, click the Add button;

[0435] 5. To delete a previously added page, select that page from the list and click the Delete button;

[0436] 6. To save the push URL list to the Project, click the Save button from the Project Chat section;

[0437] 7. Click Apply to save the Project and click the OK button to return to the main Project Window.

[0438]FIG. 58 illustrates transforming a Project into an Email Project. The process is as follows:

[0439] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project is to be transformed into an Email Project type;

[0440] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0441] 3. Right-click on the Project to be transformed and select Edit Project;

[0442] 4. Select the Email Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0443] 5. Enter the SMTP Host name into the SMTP Host field;

[0444] 6. Enter the SMTP Port number into the SMTP Port field;

[0445] 7. Enter the POP Address into the POP Address field;

[0446] 8. Enter the POP Host name and POP Password into the respective POP Host and POP Password field;

[0447] 9. Enter the POP User name into the POP User field;

[0448] 10. Select the Workgroup ID for the Email type from the Workgroup ID drop-down list;

[0449] 11. To enable Reply for the Email type, select the check box next to Reply Enabled;

[0450] 12. Click the Save button to apply the Email configuration to the selected Project;

[0451] 13. Click Apply to save the Project's Email Type and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0452]FIG. 59 illustrates transforming a Project into a Web Callback Project. The process is as follows:

[0453] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which a Project is to be transformed;

[0454] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0455] 3. Right-click on the Project to be transformed and select Edit Project;

[0456] 4. Select the Web Callback Project type from the left-hand column in the Project window;

[0457] 5. Select the Workgroup for the Web Callback type from the Workgroup ID drop-down list;

[0458] 6. If a Script is to be associated with the Web Callback type, select one from the Script drop-down list;

[0459] 7. If a Q & A is desired for the Web Callback type, select one from the Q & A drop-down list;

[0460] 8. Select the page to be displayed when the Web Callback is successful from the URL OK drop-down list;

[0461] 9. Select the page to be displayed when the Web Callback is unsuccessful from the URL Error drop-down list;

[0462] 10. Click the Save button to apply the Web Callback configuration to the selected Project;

[0463] 11. Click Apply to save the Project's Web Callback Type and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0464] A Project may be associated with various Email and Fax Templates from the libraries of templates (discussed at a later point in this document) that the Agents assigned to the Project may find useful. Adding Email Templates to a Project is illustrated in FIG. 60. The process for adding and removing Email Templates is as follows:

[0465] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with the Project in which Email Templates are to be added;

[0466] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0467] 3. Right-click on the Project in which the Email Templates are to be added and select Project Emails;

[0468] 4. Select the appropriate Email Template from the Email Library list and then click on the (>) button to add that Template; to add all the Templates to the Email Templates in the Project window, click on the (>>) button;

[0469] 5. To delete Email Templates from the list of Templates in the Emails in the Project, click on the (<) button; to remove all the Templates from the Project, click on the (<<) button;

[0470] 6. Click Apply to save the changes made and click the OK button to return to the main Project window.

[0471] Adding Fax Templates to a Project is illustrated in FIG. 61. The process for adding and deleting Fax Templates is as follows:

[0472] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with the Project in which Fax Templates are to be added;

[0473] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0474] 3. Right-click on the Project to which Fax Templates are to be added and select Project Faxes;

[0475] 4. Select the appropriate Fax Template from the Fax Library list and then click on the (>) button to add that Template; to add all the Templates to the Faxes in Project window, click on the (>>) button;

[0476] 5. To delete Fax Templates from the list of Templates in the Faxes in Project, click on the (<) button to delete that Template; to remove all the Templates from the Project, click on the (<<) button;

[0477] 6. Click Apply to save the changes made and click the OK button to return to the main Project window.

[0478] Abandoned ACD calls may be automatically returned to the Workgroup to which they had been originally routed. Modifying a Workgroup to enabling this feature is illustrated in FIG. 62. The process is as follows:

[0479] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to be modified;

[0480] 2. Click on the Workgroups tab under the Company selected;

[0481] 3. Right-click on the Workgroup to which abandoned ACD calls will be automatically routed and select Edit Workgroup;

[0482] 4. Select the Enable Call Back check box in the ACD Options section to have abandoned ACD calls returned;

[0483] 3. Click Apply to save the changes to the Workgroup and click the OK button to return to the main Workgroup window.

[0484] Reports

[0485] The Reports tab in the Administration Manager is used for generating and displaying reports of data pertaining to the operation of the call center. For example, reports can be used for tracking information about the efficiency of Agents, as well as the volume of calls made and received through the call center. Such reports can be useful in computing billing costs and estimating customer satisfaction through Outcome notes.

[0486] The Login Details Report displays login dates, times, and durations for the Agents. FIG. 63 illustrates defining a Login Report. The process is as follows:

[0487] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Report is to be created;

[0488] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0489] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0490] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0491] 5. Select the Login Details radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0492] 6. To generate a Report for all Agents, select the All Agents radio button in the Include Agents section; to generate a Report for a specific Agent, select the radio button next to the list of Agents and select that Agent from the drop-down list;

[0493] 7. Enter a Start Date and End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0494] 8. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0495]FIG. 64 illustrates enabling generation of a Summary Report. The process is as follows:

[0496] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Report is to be created;

[0497] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0498] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0499] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0500] 5. Select the Summary radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0501] 6. To generate a Report for all Agents, select the All Agents radio button in the Include Agents section; to generate a Report for a specific Agent, select the radio button next to the list of Agents and select that Agent from the drop-down list;

[0502] 7. Enter a Start Date and End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0503] 8. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0504]FIG. 65 illustrates enabling generation of an ACD Interval Report. The process is as follows:

[0505] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Report is to be created;

[0506] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0507] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0508] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0509] 5. Select the ACD Interval radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0510] 6. Select Interaction statistics to be generated in the Report by selecting a combination of highlighted interaction types under the Interaction Type section; the Interaction types include ACD Calls, ACD Callbacks, Web Calls, E-mails, Faxes, and Chats; select the check box for the interaction statistics to be included in the Report;

[0511] 7. Choose a Project or a Workgroup to be included in the Report by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Project/Workgroup section; if the Specific Project or Specific WG radio buttons is selected, select the specific Project/Workgroup from the drop-down list;

[0512] 8. Select the interval in minutes from the Call Interval section in the “Break down by” drop-down list;

[0513] 9. Select the interval in seconds from the Calls Answered section from the Within drop-down list (this function records the percentage of calls answered within so many seconds and then the rest of the calls after that time);

[0514] 10. Select a Start Date and End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0515] 11. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0516] An Outcome Report provides statistics relating to the results of Agents' interactions with the callers. FIG. 66 illustrates defining an Outcome Report. The process is as follows:

[0517] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which you an Outcome Report is to be created;

[0518] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0519] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0520] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0521] 5. Select the Outcome radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0522] 6. To generate a Report for all Agents, select the All Agents radio button in the Include Agents section; to generate a Report for a specific Agent, select the radio button next to the list of Agents and select the Agent from the drop-down list;

[0523] 7. Choose the Project or Workgroup to be included in the Report by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Project/Workgroup section; if the Specific Project or Specific WG radio buttons is selected, select the specific Project/Workgroup from the drop-down list;

[0524] 8. Enter a Start Date and End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0525] 9. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0526]FIG. 67 illustrates defining an Agent Interaction Report. The process is as follows:

[0527] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which the Report is to be created;

[0528] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0529] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0530] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0531] 5. Select the Agent Interactions radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0532] 6. Choose the Interaction statistics to be included in the Report by selecting a combination of interaction types under the Interaction Type section; the Interaction types include ACD Calls, ACD Callbacks, Preview Calls, Predictive Calls, Direct Outbound, Direct Inbound, Web Calls, E-mails, Faxes, Chats, In Ext, and Out Ext; select the check box for the interaction statistics to be included in the Report (e.g., to choose all interaction types, select the All check box);

[0533] 7. To generate a Report for all Agents, select the All Agents radio button in the Include Agents section; to generate a Report for a specific Agent, select the radio button next to the list of Agents and select that Agent from the drop-down list;

[0534] 8. Choose the Project or Workgroup to include in the Report by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Project/Workgroup section; if the Specific Project or Specific WG radio buttons are selected, select the specific Project/Workgroup from the drop-down list;

[0535] 9. Enter a Start Date and End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0536] 10. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0537]FIG. 68 illustrates defining an Agent Information Report that displays information pertaining to specified Agents, such as their extensions, phone numbers, MSI IDs, and email addresses. The process is as follows:

[0538] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which the Report is to be created;

[0539] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0540] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0541] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0542] 5. Select the Agents Information radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0543] 6. Choose the Project or workgroup to be included in the Report by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Project/Workgroup section; if the Specific Project or Specific WG radio buttons is selected, select the specific Project/Workgroup from the drop-down list;

[0544] 7. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0545]FIG. 69 illustrates creation of a Project Schedule Report that displays, for example, the Schedule of Projects that each Agent in the Company is performing. The process for creating this type of Report is as follows:

[0546] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which the Report is to be created;

[0547] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0548] 3. Right-click in-the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0549] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0550] 5. Select the Project Schedules radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0551] 6. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0552] A General Statistics Report displays general statistical information pertaining to all chosen Interactions, Averages, Percentage Statistics, and Billing and Answered Calls percentages. FIG. 70 illustrates creation of the General Statistics Report. The process for creating this Report is as follows:

[0553] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which the Report is to be created;

[0554] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0555] 3. Right-click in the Reports window and click on Create Report;

[0556] 4. Enter a name and a description of the Report in the respective Report's Name and Description fields;

[0557] 5. Select the General Statistics radio button in the Report Requested section;

[0558] 6. Choose the Interaction statistics to be included in the Report by selecting a combination of interaction types under the Interaction Type section; the Interaction types include ACD Calls, ACD Callbacks, Preview Calls, Predictive Calls, Direct Outbound, Direct Inbound, Web Calls, E-mails, Faxes, Chats, In Out, and Out Ext; select the check box for the interaction statistics to be included in the Report; to select all interaction types, select the All check box;

[0559] 7. Enter the number of seconds for the Billing Units in the Billing Units field in the Calls Billing Information section; enter a corresponding amount for the unit cost in dollars in the Unit Cost field, also in the Calls Billing Information section;

[0560] 8. To generate a Report for all Agents, select the All Agents radio button in the Include Agents section; to generate a Report for a specific Agent, select the radio button next to the list of Agents, and select the Agent from the drop-down list;

[0561] 9. Choose the Project or Workgroup to be included in the Report by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Project/Workgroup section; if the Specific Project or Specific WG radio buttons is selected, select the specific Project/Workgroup from the drop-down list;

[0562] 10. Select the interval in seconds from the Calls Answered section from the Within drop-down list; this function records the percentage of calls answered within so many seconds;

[0563] 11. Enter a Start Date and an End Date under the Period Covered field to specify the dates to be included in the Report;

[0564] 12. Click Apply to save the Report and click OK to return to the main Reports window, or click the Load Report button to view a previously created Report.

[0565]FIG. 71 illustrates deletion of a previously generated Report. The Report deletion process is as follows:

[0566] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company whose Report is to be deleted;

[0567] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0568] 3. Right-click on the Report to be deleted and click on Delete Report;

[0569] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Report.

[0570]FIG. 72 illustrates printing a previously generated Report. The process is as follows:

[0571] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company whose Report is to be printed;

[0572] 2. Click on the Reports tab under the Company selected;

[0573] 3. Right-click on the Report you wish to print and click on Print Report.

[0574] Schedules

[0575] Schedules can be created to establish the dates and times a particular Project is active. In this way, certain resources, e.g., DNIS, can service more than one Project during a given period. Note that the Current Project is the Project that is running when the new Schedule is to take over. Also note that one Project automatically ends when another Project begins.

[0576] Consider the following example of creating two scheduled Projects: “ProjectOne” is to run from 8 a.m. -8 p.m. Monday through Friday; “ProjectTwo” should run from 8 p.m. -8 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. The two Projects are listed in both the Current Project and New Project drop-down lists of the Administration Manager. Assign a name to the first Schedule, e.g., “ScheduleOne,” and select an appropriate DNIS from the drop-down list. Select the Project that is currently running in the Current Project drop-down list. Next, select “ProjectOne” from the New Project drop-down list. Enter “08:00” in the Time field and select the check boxes next to Monday through Friday. Then save the Project. Now, assign a different name the second Schedule, e.g., “ScheduleTwo,” and select the same DNIS as was used for “ScheduleOne.” Select “ProjectOne” from the Current Project drop-down list and “ProjectTwo” from the New Project drop-down list. Enter “20:00” in the Time field, select the check boxes next to Monday through Friday, and save the Project.

[0577] The process of creating a Schedule is illustrated in FIG. 73. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0578] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Schedule is to be added;

[0579] 2. Click on the Schedule tab under the Company selected;

[0580] 3. Right-click in the Schedule window and select Add Schedule;

[0581] 4. Enter a new Schedule Name in the Schedule Name field;

[0582] 5. Fill in the appropriate Project Information by selecting the appropriate DNIS, Current Project, and New Project from the respective drop-down lists;

[0583] 6. Enter a time in the respective Time field;

[0584] 7. Select a day when the new Project is to take over by clicking the corresponding check box next to the day in the Day section;

[0585] 8. Click Apply to save the Schedule and click OK to return to the main Schedule window.

[0586] Editing a Schedule is illustrated in FIG. 74. The editing process is as follows:

[0587] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company whose Schedule is to be edited;

[0588] 2. Click on the Schedule tab under the Company selected;

[0589] 3. Right-click on the Schedule to be edited and select Edit Schedule;

[0590] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Schedule information;

[0591] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Schedule window.

[0592] Deletion of an existing Schedule is illustrated in FIG. 75. The deletion process is as follows:

[0593] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company whose Schedule is to be deleted;

[0594] 2. Click on the Schedule tab under the Company selected;

[0595] 3. Right-click on the Schedule to be deleted and select Delete Schedule;

[0596] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Schedule.

[0597] URL Library

[0598] As was discussed in relation to Chat Projects, an Agent can push specific web pages to a caller while being engaged in a Chat with the caller via the Interaction Manager ACD Chat tab. These pages must exist in the call center, and when identified in the Administration Manager, they will appear in a list of URLs when the Agent selects the URL Library button on the ACD Chat tab in the Interaction Manager. URL Libraries are not specific to each Chat Project. This means that once they have been defined in the URL Library window, they need to be added to a Chat Project on the Projects tab.

[0599]FIG. 76 illustrates the steps of the process of creating a URL for the URL Library. The steps are listed below:

[0600] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to which a URL is to be added;

[0601] 2. Open the Library link and click on the URL tab under the Company selected;

[0602] 3. Right-click in the URL window and select Add URL;

[0603] 4. Enter a name for the URL in the Name field;

[0604] 5. Enter the full URL path in the URL field; define the name of the screen pop as well as the full URL path to the html Q&A web page, which can reside on the server;

[0605] 6. Enter a description of the URL in the Description field;

[0606] 7. Click Apply to save the URL and click OK to return to the main URL Library window.

[0607]FIG. 77 illustrates the steps of the process of modifying an existing URL in the URL Library. The steps are:

[0608] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which an existing URL is to be modified;

[0609] 2. Open the Library link and click on the URL tab under the Company selected;

[0610] 3. Right-click on the URL that needs to be modified and select Edit URL;

[0611] 4. Make the necessary modifications;

[0612] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main URL Library window;

[0613]FIG. 78 illustrates the process of deleting an existing URL from the URL Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0614] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a URL is to be deleted;

[0615] 2. Open the Library link and click on the URL tab under the Company selected;

[0616] 3. Right-click on the URL that needs to be deleted and select Delete URL;

[0617] 4. A message will pop asking for confirmation of the deletion request; click the OK button to delete the URL.

[0618] Email Library

[0619] By using Email Templates from the Email Library, Agents can send pre-designed email messages to the callers. Once designed in the Administration Manager, an Agent can select an appropriate template from the list of Email Templates that appears when the E-Mail button is selected from the Contact tab of the Interaction Manager.

[0620] Creating an Email Template for the Email Library is illustrated in FIG. 79. The process for creating an Email Template is as follows:

[0621] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which an Email Template is to be created;

[0622] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Email tab under the Company selected;

[0623] 3. Right-click in the Email window and click on Add Email;

[0624] 4. Enter a name for the Email Template in the Name field.

[0625] 5. Select a URL from the URL drop-down list that corresponds to the new Email Template;

[0626] 6. Enter a description for the Email Template in the Description field;

[0627] 7. Enter the Subject that is to be read on the email in the Subject field;

[0628] 8. Enter the URL for the body of the email in the Body URL field;

[0629] 9. If there is a file that is to be attached to the Email Template, enter the file into the File Attachment field;

[0630] 10. Click Apply to save the Email and click OK to return to the main Email Library window.

[0631]FIG. 80 illustrates the process of modifying an Email Template in the Email Library. The process is as follows:

[0632] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which an Email Template is to be modified;

[0633] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Email tab under the Company selected;

[0634] 3. Right-click on the Email Template to be modified and click on Edit Email;

[0635] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Email Template configuration;

[0636] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Email Library window.

[0637]FIG. 81 illustrates the process of deleting an existing Email Template. The process is as follows:

[0638] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which an Email Template is to be deleted;

[0639] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Email tab under the Company selected;

[0640] 3. Right-click on the Email to be deleted and click on Delete Email;

[0641] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Email template.

[0642] Fax Library

[0643] Agents can send pre-designed fax files to clients. This is similar to the use of Email Templates described immediately above. The fax file should be available to the host server, and should be identified in the Administration Manager. Then, by selecting the Send Fax button from the Contact tab of the Interaction Manager, an Agent can send a fax to a caller either during or after conversation with the caller.

[0644]FIG. 82 illustrates creation of a Fax object for the Fax Library. The process of creating a Fax object is as follows:

[0645] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company for which a Fax Template is to be created;

[0646] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Faxes tab under the Company selected;

[0647] 3. Right-click in the Fax window and click on Add Fax;

[0648] 4. Enter a name for the Fax Template in the Name field;

[0649] 5. Select a URL from the URL drop-down list that corresponds to the new Fax Template;

[0650] 6. Enter a description of the Fax Template in the Description field;

[0651] 7. Enter the filename of the Fax Template in the filename field (e.g., tiff filename field for a tiff-type template);

[0652] 8. Click Apply to save the Fax template and click OK to return to the main Fax Library window.

[0653] Other formats can be used instead of, or together with, the tiff format used in the example above.

[0654]FIG. 83 illustrates the process of modifying a Fax Template in the Fax Library. The process is as follows:

[0655] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to in which a Fax Template is to be modified;

[0656] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Faxes tab under the Company selected;

[0657] 3. Right-click on the Fax Template to be modified and click on Edit Fax;

[0658] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Fax Template configuration;

[0659] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Fax Library window.

[0660]FIG. 84 illustrates the process of deleting a Fax Template from the Fax Library. The process is as follows:

[0661] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which a Fax Template is to be deleted;

[0662] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Faxes tab under the Company selected;

[0663] 3. Right-click on the Fax to be deleted and click on Delete Fax;

[0664] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Fax.

[0665] Agent Status Library

[0666] The Administration Manager provides a capability to create Agent Status objects. Such objects pertain to the states of the individual Agents, such as Talking, signifying that the Agent is interacting with a caller; Wrapup, signifying that the Agent is within the time period immediately following an end of an interaction with a caller; and Available, meaning that the Agent is available to receive another interaction.

[0667]FIG. 85 illustrates the process of defining an Agent Status object for the Agent Status Library, where these objects are stored. The process is as follows:

[0668] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to which an Agent Status object is to be added;

[0669] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Status tab under the Company selected;

[0670] 3. Right-click in the Agent Status window and click on Add Agent Status;

[0671] 4. Enter a name for the Agent Status in the Agent Status Name field;

[0672] 5. Enter a description for the Agent Status in the Description field;

[0673] 6. Click Apply to save the Agent Status and click OK to return to the main Agent Status Library window.

[0674]FIG. 86 illustrates the process of modifying a previously defined Agent Status object. The process is as follows:

[0675] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which an Agent Status object is to be modified;

[0676] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Status tab under the Company selected;

[0677] 3. Right-click on the Agent Status to be modified and click on Edit Agent Status;

[0678] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent Status configuration;

[0679] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Agent Status Library window.

[0680]FIG. 87 illustrates the process of deleting a previously defined Agent Status object. The process is as follows:

[0681] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which an Agent Status object is to be deleted;

[0682] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Status tab under the Company selected;

[0683] 3. Right-click on the Agent Status to be deleted and click on Delete Agent Status;

[0684] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Agent Status.

[0685] Agent Departure Reason Library

[0686] As was discussed above in relation to FIG. 23, the Administration Manager allows the Company to document the time of and the reason for departure of an individual Agent. The Agent Departure Reason Library is the library of pre-defined standard reasons that can be associated with specific departures.

[0687] Defining an Agent Departure Reason object is illustrated in FIG. 88. The process is as follows:

[0688] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to which an Agent Departure Reason is to be added;

[0689] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Departure Reason tab under the Company selected;

[0690] 3. Right-click in the Agent Departure Reason window and click on Add Agent Departure Reason;

[0691] 4. Enter a reason for the Agent's Departure in the Departure Reason field;

[0692] 5. Click Apply to save the Agent Departure Reason and click OK to return to the main Agent Departure Reason Library window;

[0693]FIG. 89 illustrates the process of modifying a previously defined Agent Departure Reason. The process is as follows:

[0694] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in which an Agent Departure Reason is to be modified;

[0695] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Departure Reason tab under the Company selected;

[0696] 3. Right-click on the Agent Departure Reason to be modified and click on Edit Agent Departure Reason;

[0697] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Agent Departure Reason;

[0698] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Agent Departure Reason Library window.

[0699]FIG. 90 illustrates the process of deleting a previously defined Agent Departure Reason. The process is as follows:

[0700] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from which an Agent Departure Reason is to be deleted;

[0701] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Agent Departure Reason tab under the Company selected;

[0702] 3. Right-click on the Agent Departure Reason to be deleted and click on Delete Agent Departure Reason;

[0703] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Agent Departure Reason.

[0704] Push URL Library

[0705] The Push URL Library is a library for centrally organizing pre-defined URLs that can be pushed to a caller while the caller awaits to receive a Chat message from an Agent.

[0706]FIG. 91 illustrates the process of adding a Push URL to the Push URL Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0707] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to whose Push URL Library a Push URL is to be added;

[0708] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Push URL tab under the Company selected;

[0709] 3. Right-click in the Push URL window and select Add Push URL;

[0710] 4. Enter a name for the Push URL in the Name field;

[0711] 5. Select a URL from the URL drop-down list that corresponds to the new Push URL;

[0712] 6. Enter a description of the Push URL in the Description field;

[0713] 7. Click Apply to save the Push URL and click OK to return to the main Push URL Library window.

[0714]FIG. 92 illustrates the process of modifying a Push URL in the Push URL Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0715] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in whose Push URL Library a Push URL is to be modified;

[0716] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Push URL tab under the Company selected;

[0717] 3. Right-click on the Push URL to be modified and select Edit Push URL;

[0718] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Push URL configuration;

[0719] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Push URL Library window.

[0720]FIG. 93 illustrates deletion of a Push URL from the Push URL Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0721] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from whose Push URL Library a Push URL is to be deleted;

[0722] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Push URL tab under the Company selected;

[0723] 3. Right-click on the Push URL to be deleted and select Delete Push URL;

[0724] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Push URL.

[0725] Outcome Library

[0726] An Outcome is an object describing the result of an interaction with a caller. Examples of calls with Outcomes could be a caller with a question, a potential client calling for product info, or a call needing technical support. For these and many other calls, it becomes more efficient to label the result of the interaction. Whether the call was completed successfully, remains pending, or should be returned by another Agent, it may the useful to label the end result in order to promote efficient call handling and facilitate statistical analysis. The Outcome Library is used as a logical location for organizing the various existing Outcomes.

[0727] Adding a new Outcome to the Outcome Library is illustrated in 94. The process of adding an Outcome is as follows:

[0728] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company to whose Outcome Library a new Outcome object is to be added;

[0729] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Outcomes tab under the Company selected;

[0730] 3. Right-click in the Outcome window and click on Add Outcome;

[0731] 4. Enter a name for the Outcome into the Outcome Name field;

[0732] 5. Enter a description of the Outcome in the Description field;

[0733] 6. Click Apply to save the Outcome and click OK to return to the main Outcome Library window.

[0734]FIG. 95 illustrates the process of modifying an Outcome in the Outcome Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0735] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company in whose Outcome Library an Outcome object is to be modified;

[0736] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Outcomes tab under the Company selected;

[0737] 3. Right-click on the Outcome to be modified and click on Edit Outcome;

[0738] 4. Make any necessary changes to the Outcome Information;

[0739] 5. Click Apply to save the changes and click OK to return to the main Outcome Library window.

[0740]FIG. 96 illustrates deletion of a Push URL from the Push URL Library. The steps of the process are as follows:

[0741] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company from whose Outcome Library an Outcome object is to be deleted;

[0742] 2. Open the Library link and click on the Outcomes tab under the Company selected;

[0743] 3. Right-click on the Outcome to be deleted and click on Delete Outcome;

[0744] 4. A message will pop asking for a confirmation of the deletion request; click OK to delete the Outcome.

[0745] Setting Priority to a Project

[0746] Projects may be assigned different priority levels. FIGS. 97 and 98 illustrate the process of assigning a priority level to a project. The process is as follows:

[0747] 1. From the main left-hand column, select the Company with a Project to be assigned a priority level;

[0748] 2. Click on the Projects tab under the Company selected;

[0749] 3. Right-click on the Project and select Set Priority;

[0750] 4. To give a priority level to the selected Project, click the Priority Level radio button and then select a number (1-5) from the drop-down list to specify the priority level;

[0751] 5. To have a Custom Priority level, select the Custom Level radio button and then fill out the remaining fields;

[0752] 6. To configure the Custom Level, enter an SQL Query which will determine how the Projects are prioritized; depending on the SQL Query, there will be an integer or a string produced;

[0753] 7. If there is an error in the SQL Query, or if there is no result, select a Project from the Default Result Call to drop-down list to determine the Default Result Project;

[0754] 8. Depending on the SQL Query, there will be an integer or string produced; if the result is an Integer, then enter a number in the “If Result=” field to determine that Project's typical result integer response;

[0755] 9. Select Projects from the three drop-down lists that correspond to the integer being equal to, greater than, or less than the integer previously entered; this determines where the Integer Response will be routed depending on the SQL Query result;

[0756] 10. If the SQL Query result is a string, go through steps 11-15 to configure String Responses;

[0757] 11. Depending on the SQL Query, there can be multiple String Responses; the Administrator adds all the String Reponses that correspond to that SQL Query;

[0758] 12. Enter a possible String Response in the “If Response =” field; then select the Project that the String Response will route to from the “Route Call to” field;

[0759] 13. Click the Add button to add that String Response to the list of Responses seen at the far right of the String Response sub-tab;

[0760] 14. Repeat steps 12 and 13 until all corresponding String Responses are added;

[0761] 15. Click Apply to save the priority level for the Project and click OK to return to the main Project window.

[0762] We have described the inventive call center administration manager and some of its features in considerable detail for illustration purposes only. Neither the specific embodiments of the invention as a whole nor those of its features limit the general principles underlying the invention. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples therefore do not define the metes and bounds of the invention, which function has been reserved for the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A company call center comprising: a plurality of call-center resources running on a third-party network, the plurality of resources comprising a first server and a second resource; a third server running on a private network of the company behind a firewall; a database for storing sensitive information, the database running on the private network behind the firewall, the database communicating with the third server; wherein the second resource generates a first record of sensitive data, and transmits the first record to the database through the first server and the third server:
 2. A call center according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of resources further comprises a fourth resource; the fourth resource issues a request through the first server and the third server for a second record stored on the database; and in response to the request, the database transmits the second record to the fourth resource through the first server and the third server.
 3. A call center according to claim 2, wherein: the second resource erases the first record after transmitting the first record to the database; and the fourth resource erases the second record after receiving it from the database.
 4. A call center according to claim 3, further comprising a wide area network-based computer having a graphical user interface and memory for storing and running a program that allows an operator of the computer to administer the call center.
 5. A call center according to claim 3, further comprising a browser-based administration manager means for administering the call center from a wide area network.
 6. A company call center comprising: a plurality of call-center resources running on a third-party network, the plurality of resources comprising a first resource that generates data; a database for storing sensitive information, the database running on a private network of the company behind a firewall; and means for transmitting the generated data from the first resource to the database.
 7. A call center according to claim 6, wherein: the plurality of call center resources further comprises a second resource that needs a first record of sensitive information stored in the database; further comprising means for requesting the first record from the database and means for transmitting the first record from the database to the second resource.
 8. A call center according to claim 7, wherein: the first resource erases the generated data after transmitting the generated data to the database; and the second resource erases the first record after the second resource no longer needs the first record.
 9. A call center according to claim 8, further comprising browser-based administration manager means for administering the call center from a wide area network. 